Using Fashion As a Form of Catharsis In a World Full of Unknowns
The joy of now mentality via the clothes we wear
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You may not typically think of using fashion as a form of catharsis, as a way to release and let go, but beyond the superficiality of fashion it can be a way to find inspiration and some sort of joy, however small. At least that’s what I’ve discovered.
During the first set of lockdowns I began collecting clothes, or rather I was over-ordering online as a way to cope with the unknown and stave off feelings of doom and dread. It was a way for me to not have to think about what was going on in the outside world beyond my front door, a way for me to find peace and hope amid the chaos.
I quickly realised that when we were ready to emerge from various quarantines and lockdowns, I was no longer interested in returning to a life that didn’t serve me and I wanted my personal style to be a reflection of this change. I, along with many others, reevaluated different aspects of my life during the pandemic, and my wardrobe was one of the things I thought about.
The idea of having true personal style in a world that bombards us with targeted ads and influencer recommendations feels elusive. There’s a certain tension between being a fashion tourist, someone who jumps on the latest trend bandwagon, and a fashion purist, someone who dresses for themselves. With tons of outside factors influencing us daily, it can be hard to know what our own individual style is amid all the noise.
Personal style is always going to be better than any trend, but how do we really define our style, and how do we select clothing that correctly communicates what we want to say without actually having to speak? How can we look beyond the algorithms and over-populated feeds to clothing that aligns with our individuality? For some this scenario may be easier to solve than others, for me it's something I’m still figuring out.
Yes, during various lockdowns I may have gone a little overboard on the online ordering. But now I prefer to look at it another way, maybe I was collecting clothes to inspire me when it was time to finally rejoin the world. Maybe I was looking at clothes as a form of escapism, maybe exploring my personal style during the pandemic was a way for me to find a release and some semblance of normality.
We’re always so quick to look to the next thing, that we can forget to enjoy what’s right in front of us. I’ve learnt to find pleasure in the joy of now through clothing and what we wear. Whatever’s sitting on your top shelf or stuffed at the back of your closet, whatever you're saving for a special occasion, take it down and enjoy. You too can use fashion as a form of catharsis in a world full of unknowns.
How does fashion make you feel? What do you want your personal style to express about yourself?
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